Florida couple arrested in Pennsylvania, accused of scamming people out of thousands from Alabama to New Jersey to Massachusetts

An investigation has led to the arrest of two people concerning an alleged scam that resulted in the loss of thousands across the eastern part of the United States.

According to police, a Florida couple was arrested near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and are now awaiting extradition to New Jersey to face charges related to a multi-state credit card fraud scheme. The charges include credit card fraud, theft, and conspiracy. 

Between November and December, the Franklin Township Police Department in New Jersey received multiple reports of credit card fraud targeting customers of a local bank. To date, 14 victims have been identified in South Jersey, with that number expected to rise as the investigation continues. 

Olivia Jean Baptiste, 24, of West Park, Florida, and Michael Rampal, 29, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, are accused of impersonating the bank’s security team members in phone calls with victims. Detectives believe the suspects used a cell phone application to disguise their number as originating from the bank. During these calls, the pair falsely claimed the victims’ accounts had been compromised and requested personal information for verification purposes. 

The investigation revealed that Baptiste and Rampal had been renting vehicles in Florida and traveling to the New Jersey area to carry out the scheme. Once they obtained enough personal data, they accessed victims’ accounts and transferred funds onto gift cards purchased at dollar stores across the region. They also used the fraudulently obtained funds to purchase high end items at Best Buy in Vineland, NJ. The total amount defrauded from bank customers has exceeded $22,000. On December 18th, investigators learned that Baptiste and Rampal had rented another vehicle and were in the Harrisburg area. The Lower Paxton Township Bureau of Police located the suspects driving a rental vehicle with Florida plates. A traffic stop led to their arrest on an unrelated drug charge. Lower Paxton Detectives applied for a search warrant and a search of the vehicle uncovered a large sum of U.S. currency and 68 gift cards, believed to have been bought using stolen credit card information. Investigators also located eleven cellular phones and a laptop that were turned over to Franklin Township and believed to be used in the course of the scheme.

Baptiste and Rampal have been charged with credit card fraud, theft, and conspiracy, with additional charges expected as the investigation progresses. They are currently being held in the Dauphin County Jail, awaiting extradition to New Jersey. 

According to 6ABC News, the suspects are accused of victimizing bank customers from Alabama to Massachusetts.

This case was investigated by Detective Dylan Colclough of the Franklin Township Police Department.

The charges against Baptiste and Rampal are merely accusations and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.